700 Gray Ave, Saskatoon, SK S7N 2J3
Our Staff
Ms. Julie
Board of Directors
Board of Directors
Administrator,
Lower Elementary Senior Directress
Curriculum Advisor
Ms. Julie is trained and accredited through the North American Montessori Centre for the Lower Elementary, Casa, and Infant/ Toddler programs. She also has her Elementary Montessori accreditation through the Montessori Teacher’s College. Ms. Julie attained a B.Sc. and a B.Ed at the University of Saskatchewan. She has taught in a Montessori classroom as a Director since 2004 and has also taught in the public system for 7 years. Ms. Julie is the founder of Brilliant Star Montessori School and has led our staffing team as our Administrator since our first year in 2009. Ms. Julie has also written Montessori articles for the North American Montessori Training Centre and has many of her pieces published on their website. She has nineteen years of experience coaching children (kayak, canoe, swimming, soccer, volleyball, and track and field). She has coached on a local, provincial, and national level for the sport of sprint canoe and kayak. Ms. Julie has also taught as an instructor at the Ecology Club for Kids for three years in Saskatoon and has received her facilitator training and certification in the Virtues Project, which is a course on Character Building Education for families and schools. Ms. Julie’s passion and enthusiasm for the Montessori philosophy and The Virtues Project guides her in her roles in our school.
Board of Directors
Board of Directors
Board of Directors
Julie Davidsen
Susan Pezderic
Jason Danielson
Beverly Pongracz
Vikki Markovich
Casa Staff
Ms. Goya
Ms. Sarah D.
Ms. Sarah D.
Casa Directress
Ms. Goya, has completed her Montessori Casa Director training from the North American Montessori Centre and has also completed her Casa Director accreditation through The Montessori Teachers College. Ms. Goya also has certification for Montessori Music and Art from The Centre for Guided Montessori Studies. Ms. Goya received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Tamkang University in Taipei, Taiwan and completed her ECE (Early Childhood Education) Certificate through SIAST. She has worked with children since 2000 in Kindergarten and Elementary schools and was also an EFL teacher overseas. She has been working on Decorative Painting for many years and has acquired a teaching certificate for decorative painting. You can see some of Ms.Goya’s beautiful art work in our school yard and in our classrooms! Ms. Goya’s hobbies are painting, gardening, biking, camping and hiking. Ms. Goya has been working at Brilliant Star Montessori School since 2013!
Ms. Sarah D.
Ms. Sarah D.
Ms. Sarah D.
Casa Assistant
Ms. Sarah D. has completed her Montessori Casa Assistant diploma from The Centre for Guided Montessori Studies. This will be Ms. Sarah’s second year at Brilliant Star and she is happy to be returning to the Brilliant Star Montessori school community this fall. Sarah also has previous experience working at Masters Academy and College in Alberta. Ms. Sarah enjoys physical activity, botany and visiting with friends and family. Ms. Sarah is proud that she is a Brilliant Star Montessori School alumni and attended a Montessori Casa program as a young girl.
Elementary Staff
Ms. Julie
Ms. Sarah S.
Ms. Sarah S.
Administrator,
Lower Elementary Senior Directress
Curriculum Advisor
Ms. Julie is trained and accredited through the North American Montessori Centre for the Lower Elementary, Casa, and Infant/ Toddler programs. She also has her Elementary Montessori accreditation through the Montessori Teacher’s College. Ms. Julie attained a B.Sc. and a B.Ed at the University of Saskatchewan. She has taught in a Montessori classroom as a Director since 2004 and has also taught in the public system for 7
years. Ms. Julie is the founder of Brilliant Star Montessori School and has led our staffing team as our Administrator since our first year in 2009. Ms. Julie has also written Montessori articles for the North American Montessori Training Centre and has many of her pieces published on their
website. She has nineteen years of experience coaching children (kayak, canoe, swimming, soccer, volleyball, and track and field). She has coached on a local, provincial, and national level for the sport of sprint canoe and kayak. Ms. Julie has also taught as an instructor at the Ecology Club for Kids for three years in Saskatoon and has received her facilitator training and certification in the Virtues Project, which is a course on Character Building Education for families and schools. Ms. Julie’s passion and enthusiasm for the Montessori philosophy and The Virtues Project guides her in her roles in our school.
Ms. Sarah S.
Ms. Sarah S.
Ms. Sarah S.
Elementary AM Assistant
Ms. Sarah S. completed her Casa Training through the North American Montessori Centre in 2021. Ms. Sarah has also attained a B.A. and a B.Ed at the University of Saskatchewan and University of Regina respectively. Ms. Sarah has also taught as a substitute teacher with the Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools for eight years. Ms. Sarah grew up in a Saskatoon, and enjoyed playing with the Wind Orchestra during her time at the U of S. Ms. Sarah enjoys travelling and has learnt a lot from her travels to Japan, Australia, Poland and Ukraine. All those experiences have given Ms. Sarah a wealth of understanding of the diversity and culture of the world. When she’s not at school, Ms. Sarah loves to do many activities with her family including camping, swimming, biking, and going for walks in nature. She is looking forward assisting with some Nature camps this summer through Wildernook Fresh Air Learning. Ms. Sarah worked at Brilliant Star Montessori in 2021 and she is very excited to rejoin the staffing team at Brilliant Star Montessori this year and can’t wait to share her joy of learning with the students. Ms. Sarah has two children and her oldest is excited to be joining the Casa class in the fall.
Ms. Chanelle
Ms. Chanelle
Ms. Chanelle
Elementary PM Assistant
Ms. Chanelle has her Bachelor of Arts and Sciences with high honours. She furthered her education in Montreal by completing a diploma in visual impairment and rehabilitation. Growing up in a rural Francophone community, Ms Chanelle is fully bilingual. Ms Chanelle has a passion for travel and loves to learn through experience. She was fortunate to live, study, volunteer, and work abroad in various places such as Guatemala, Nicaragua, Spain, and Montreal, Quebec. Through these life experiences, Ms Chanelle has gained a cultural sensitivity and understanding of children of all backgrounds. Ms Chanelle also spent five years in rural France with her young family. She has recently returned to Saskatoon to raise her three children. When she has spare time, she loves creating artisanal macrame jewelry. She also enjoys camping and being outdoors, making puzzles and playing board games, jogging, cooking, gardening, and having spontaneous living room dance parties with her children. Ms Chanelle is thrilled to be joining the Brilliant Star staffing team as an Elementary teacher’s assistant and is eager to meet the school community.
Ms. Jackie
Ms. Chanelle
Ms. Chanelle
Elementary Music Directress
Ms. Jackie, has her Bachelor of Music in Music Education along with her Bachelor of Education. Ms. Jackie has worked in Montessori schools as an educational assistant and a Music directress where she worked directly with toddler, preschool and kindergarten aged children. Outside of the classroom, Ms. Jackie runs her own private violin studio of over 30 children, several toddler and preschool Music classes, and string quartets. She also volunteers her time with Saskatoon Summer Players and Cornerstone Theater to help put on large productions. Ms. Jackie has been working at Brilliant Star Montessori School since 2018 and is looking forward to another great year at Brilliant Star Montessori School.
Our Staff Mission Statement
Our goal as a staff is to work as a united, encouraging team alongside parents in a positive community of support and guidance. We will strive to provide joyful learning through the Montessori Education and the Virtues Program for our students in a secure, peaceful, and caring environment that nurtures the development of every child and their natural curiosity for learning.